Plastic package for an IC card

Abstract

A plastic package for an IC card comprises a first package section and a section package section, both of which have a flat base and a rim which extends around the periphery of the base and projects therefrom. A groove is formed in the rim of the first package section, and a projection which fits into the groove is formed in the rim of the second package section. A bonding agent is applied to the inside of the groove, and the two package sections are combined with the top surfaces of the rims abutting and the projection inserted into the groove. In one form of the invention, the groove is preferably larger than the projection by an amount sufficient to prevent bonding agent from being forced out of the groove. In another form of the invention, grooves for storing bonding agent which overflows from the grooves are formed in the top surface of one of the rims on either side of the groove and projection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A plastic package for an IC card comprising: a first package section which is made of plastic and has a flat base and a rim which projects upwards from one side of said base and extends along the periphery of said base, the top surface of said rim having formed therein a first engaging portion comprising at least one depression;   a second package section which is made of plastic and has a flat base and a rim which projects upwards from one side of the base of said second package section and extends along the periphery of the base of said second package section, the top surface of the rim of said second package section having formed therein a second engaging portion comprising at least one projection, said first and second package sections being combined with one another with the top surfaces of said rims in intimate contact with one another and with said first and second engaging portions engaged with one another; and   a bonding agent which is applied to the depression of said first engaging portion before it is engaged with the projection of said second engaging portion, said first and second engaging portions being bonded together by said bonding agent.   
     
     
       2. A plastic package as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first engaging portion is a continuous groove which extends for substantially the entire length of the top surface of the rim of said first package section; and   said second engaging portion is a continuous projection which extends for substantially the entire length of the top surface of the rim of said second package section and which has a transverse cross-sectional shape which is complementary to that of said first engaging portion.   
     
     
       3. A plastic package as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second engaging portions have a rectangular transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       4. A plastic package as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first engaging portion further comprises at least one projection; and   said second engaging portion further comprises at least one depression which engages with said projection of said first engaging portion.   
     
     
       5. A plastic package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of each of said depressions are larger than the dimensions of the corresponding projection by an amount such that a gap will be left between at least one portion of each depression and the corresponding projection and said bonding agent will not be forced out of said depressions when said engaging portions are engaged. 
     
     
       6. A plastic package as claimed in claim 5, wherein: each of said depressions is a groove having a rectangular transverse cross section and each of said projections has a rectangular transverse cross section which is complementary to that of the corresponding depression; and   the width of each depression is greater than the width of the corresponding groove.   
     
     
       7. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said gap is formed on both sides of each groove between said groove and the corresponding projection. 
     
     
       8. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said gap is formed on only one side of each groove between said groove and the corresponding projection. 
     
     
       9. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said gap is formed on both sides of each groove and between the bottom surface of said groove and the end surface of the corresponding projection. 
     
     
       10. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depth of each groove is less than the initial height of the corresponding projection and said top surfaces of said rim are made to contact one another by the application of pressure in the direction normal to said top surfaces, whereby the end of each projection is deformed and expands inside the corresponding groove. 
     
     
       11. A plastic package as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bonding agent is a solvent which can dissolve the plastic of which said first and second package sections are made. 
     
     
       12. A plastic package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bonding agent is a dope cement. 
     
     
       13. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depth of each groove is substantially the same as the height of the corresponding projection. 
     
     
       14. A plastic package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depth of each groove is greater than the height of the corresponding projection. 
     
     
       15. A plastic package as claimed in claim 1, further comprising depressions for bonding agent which are formed in the top surface of the rim of one of said first and second package sections on both sides of said first and second engaging portions in the vicinity thereof, said depression for bonding agent being sufficiently large to hold any bonding agent which is forced out from said engaging portions when said engaging portions are engaged. 
     
     
       16. A plastic package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dimensions of each of said depressions are larger than the dimensions of the corresponding projection by an amount such that a gap will be left between at least one portion of each depression and the corresponding projection and said bonding agent will not be forced out of said depressions when said engaging portions are engaged.